On this week’s episode of Enneagram IRL, we meet with Missy Stevens and Susanne Kerns of the “Mom and…” Podcast.

Missy Stevens is a writer, foster child advocate, and podcaster. Her past life includes stints as a corporate community relations manager, and non-profit communications writer. These days, Missy is an aspiring novelist, slowly working on endless revisions of her first manuscript. Her work has been featured in local and national online publications, as well as in the stage production, Listen to Your Mother.

Susanne is a humor writer living in Austin, Texas with her husband and two children. Her work has been featured in Scary Mommy, Redbook, Today Parents and several parenting anthologies. She's currently writing her first non-fiction book. and also runs "Informed Parents of Austin," a group she founded to advocate for LGBTQIA+ students, families and staff in her school district.

On this week’s episode of Enneagram IRL, we meet with Kate Hallock, a writer who loves taking non-fiction topics and turning them into engaging fiction. Her Debut novel, Nine Ways to Die: An Enneagram Murder Mystery, takes the concepts of the Enneagram, and displays them in the fun puzzle of a murder mystery. Kate lives in Peachtree City, Georgia where she drives a golf cart everywhere usually with at least one of her three daughters in tow, sometimes her husband and occasionally their scruffy dog. She spends most of her free time inventing worlds and characters and writing about them. Luckily, she can do a lot of it in her head while she runs carpool, shops for groceries, and endlessly sorts socks.

On this week’s episode of Enneagram IRL, we meet with Stephanie Woodward, a whole-life and leadership coach, facilitator, and author of The Big Scale Back: Success and balance by your own design (which was just released this week). She is the founder of Agency to Change, a boutique firm specializing in custom coaching programs to help individuals and teams redefine their relationship with work. We discuss Stephanie’s journey of reevaluating her approach to work and productivity as a One-to-One Nine. She offers so much insight into team dynamics, Type Nine strengths & shadows, burnout, & more!

On this week’s episode of Enneagram IRL, we meet with Sarah Mikutel. Sarah is an American writer and coach and host of the LIVE Without Borders podcast. In 2010, at the advice of a stranger, Sarah traded New York City for a small town in Italy, obtained dual citizenship within two months, and has been living the expat / location independent dream ever since. (She may look like Type 7, but — surprise! — she leads with 9). As a student of Stoic philosophy — the foundation of modern cognitive behavioral therapy — Sarah takes an evidenced-based approach to her coaching. This includes goal mapping and habit building that leads to long-lasting, transformational results.

In the episode, we discuss the energizing concept of Stoicism and grasp the empowering idea of living your life to the fullest and what exactly that means as Sarah shares her experiences and knowledge as a Self- Preservation Nine.

When I think about communication, I think about more than just talking: it’s how we express ourselves (even silence is a form of self-expression), it’s how we connect (or don’t), it’s how we build relationships and cultivate our lives. It’s everything! And this is one of THE most important ways I think we can use the Enneagram. How do you communicate with yourself? (Yes, it’s a thing!) And how do you communicate with others?

If you’ve been curious about using the Enneagram for growth, improving your relationships, and deepening self-awareness, I have good news for you!

There are so many things about Enneagram Nines that we sometimes forget to talk about….

Their strength, resilience, and independence are the first things that come to mind!

If you think of Enneagram Nines as perpetual softies who can be bossed around to do whatever you want 😬, let’s just say, that doesn’t line up with many Nines I know! This post adds nuance and depth to some of the things you might think about the Nines in your life.

In relationships, Nines value comfort and harmony. Nines extend acceptance to others, which creates a safe, loving space for the relationship to thrive. It’s important to Nines that others are also just, fair, and open to different perspectives. When less aware, Nines can merge so strongly with their partner that they no longer know who they truly are. Beneath the merging is a desire to be loved and cared for in a way that supports their peace and creates true, deep, connected love.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS | This is a new series I’m working on, and it will be published over the next several months. This first conversation was inspired by my friend @tiffenywithane’s recent IG & FB posts sharing her experiences as a Black woman in America.

I talked with her about what it’s like for her, an Enneagram Nine, to speak up about topics that are important but often make others uncomfortable. I’m so grateful to Tiff for sharing her thoughts with me and taking the time to let me interview her!The first portion (slides 4 and 5) feature a quote from Tiff’s Instagram. The following slides are from our interview conversation. My only regret is that I didn’t record this to share with you all! I’ve noted that for next time.